Laser Resurfacing Treatments

Serving Albany, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Troy, New York

As a comprehensive laser skincare center, we are committed to providing our patients with state-of-the-art laser treatments in accordance with the highest standards of safety, efficacy and service. To this end, we maintain 8 lasers/light devices on site and have access to numerous others for more specialized indications. Direct ownership of lasers, rather than relying heavily on outside vendors, not only underscores our serious commitment to laser medicine, but also translates into numerous added benefits for our patients. One obvious benefit is greater scheduling convenience being that these devices are on site at all times; but even more importantly, are the intangibles in the form of greater competency with the use of these devices themselves.

There is simply no substitute for knowledge and expertise. We strongly believe that lasers are medical devices and should be operated under the direct supervision of a physician trained in cutaneous laser surgery. Albany Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, Dr Falk has incorporated lasers in his practice for many years. He is an academic physician involved in research and teaching. As an active member of the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, he makes every effort to stay abreast of the latest trends and newest innovations in this rapidly changing industry.

It can be difficult and outright confusing for even the most seasoned medical professional to make sense of the changing landscape of laser treatments. For this reason, we feel that the general public would benefit from some basic understanding of the principles behind laser surgery when contemplating a treatment or evaluating a facility to receive these services. There are two basic classes of devices: lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources. Lasers produce a single wavelength of high intensity light, and are best for treating discrete lesions. Light sources produce a broad spectrum of light that lacks the same specificity of a laser but gains in the ability to target multiple attributes of the skin (brown spots and red spots) in the same treatment session. Thus, light sources are best for treating more diffuse skin conditions such as generalized solar skin damage. Both classes of devices are complimentary and are incorporated into our approach to skin care. It is also important to consider safety and comfort features of a facility when electing to undergo laser treatment. One of the most important aspects of laser treatments that influences both comfort and safety is adequate skin cooling during laser treatments. For this reason, we maintain a Zimmer ™ cooler, which blows cold air over the treatment site during the course of a session.

In addition to lasers and light sources, there are many other classes of devices that utilize energy sources other than light to achieve tissue effects. Some of these promising alternatives include radiofrequency (Thermage), ultrasound, and plasma nitrogen energy (Portrait PSR). These devices have less specificity and hence less predictability than devices with specific laser targets in the skin (water, blood vessels, pigment). Long-term outcome studies are still underway on many of these systems.

If you want to learn more about what The Center for Facial Plastic Surgery and Laser Skin Care of North Eastern New York can offer you, please take a look at our website and contact our laser resurfacing office today to schedule a consultation.